Lincoln Kiwanian Recognized For Helping Others

LINCOLN -- A former president of Lincoln Area Kiwanis Club was honored last week with a Walter Zeller Fellowship award in recognition of his excellent term as president and his participation in the organization's international project.

Jerry Martin, chairman of the Kiwanis Mo-Ark Division's Eliminate Project, presented Lynn Thomas with the award, a medallion to wear around his neck, a lapel pin and a certificate. Thomas did not know he would receive the award at the Kiwanis luncheon meeting June 15.

Kiwanis International's Eliminate Project has raised money the past four years to help eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, a deadly disease that steals the lives of 49,000 babies and a significant number of women each year. The international group recently announced that it had met its goal to raise $110 million in donations and pledges, Martin said.

The Mo-Ark District, which includes Lincoln, raised $1.8 million in gifts and pledges for the Eliminate Project and the Lincoln Kiwanis Club raised $1,500. That means, Martin said, the Lincoln club was able to save 880 mothers and babies from the disease.

Lincoln's club donated its money to the Eliminate project in Thomas' name, giving him the opportunity to receive the fellowship recognition.

Kiwanis created the Walter Zeller Fellowship to honor those who gave a one-time gift or two-year consecutive pledge of $1,250 to the Eliminate Project.

"I'm so glad you gave that money in honor of him," said Jeanne Harp, lieutenant governor for Mo-Ark District. "He is very deserving. I'm so very proud of you for doing that."

Thomas thanked his fellow Kiwanians for the award, noting he and his wife, Deon, love children.

"We're all about kids. That's why we have a foster home just for babies," Thomas said.

Thomas served as president of Lincoln Kiwanis from January 2013 to October 2015. During that time, the club sponsored fundraisers to benefit the Eliminate Project.

Thomas said one of the highlights of his tenure as president was Kiwanis' efforts in helping to get Bright Future Lincoln off the ground and started. As president of Kiwanis, he served on the Bright Futures board of directors. Bright Futures is a program that seeks to meet physical needs of students so they can concentrate on their academic studies.